"I was devastated to lose the job because it was something I felt I could make a real success of," he said.

"We knew it was going to take time to make the necessary changes. It was going to take time to evolve. But we were in the process of making other important changes. In the end, I don’t feel I was given time to succeed or fail."

"It was a step into the unknown and, looking back now, it was near enough the impossible job."

David Moyes poses for photographs following his unveiling in July 2013. Credit: PA Wire

The 51-year-old endured a difficult 10-month tenure in charge at Old Trafford, as Manchester United suffered a number of notable defeats and finished with their lowest ever points tally in the Premier League.

The Scot claims he tried to sign Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Cesc Fabregas but the major signings needed to improve the squad did not materialise.

"It's been well documented that we wanted Fabregas, Bale and Ronaldo. There was talk of Ronaldo when I first arrived. We were close to getting a couple of major names.

"I'm not getting in a blame game here but things just didn't materialise."

Moyes was sacked in April after just 10 months in charge. Credit: PA Wire

The former Everton manager also revealed his disappointment at the manner in which his departure was handled, after news of sacking broke on a number of media outlets the day before.

"In the end it was difficult for my family, the way we discovered — via the media — that I’d lost my job," he told journalist Matt Lawton.

"We have always tried to do things the correct way. I know it comes with the territory, and I know if you lose matches you risk being sacked. But how it affected my family made it hard."

Moyes said he had met with Sir Alex Ferguson since his departure. Credit: PA Wire